Asbestos Related Illnesses

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that can be broken down into thin strands, known as fibres. It is a very hard substance and when asbestos fibres enter the body they cannot be broken down by our normal self-defence systems. Thus,  when the fibres are inhaled into the lungs they remain there and can cause damage to the tissue that can develop into serious disorders (sometimes known as asbestos poisoning).

This is a problem because asbestos was commonly used in building materials, insulation, floorings, fireproofing, brake pads, paints and adhesives between 1930 and 1999 when it was banned. As a result asbestos containing materials (ACMs) are still found in properties throughout the UK. When these materials are disturbed their fibres can become airborne making them easy to inhale.

People that regularly work in the presence of damaged ACMs are most at risk. Those with the following occupations are most likely to come into regular contact with ACMs; asbestos removal, building, demolition, plumbing & heating installation, electricians, IT networking, railworking (especially underground), shipbuilding, fireproofing, insulating, roofing and double glazing.  Others that work or live in buildings that containing damaged ACMs are also at risk.

The UK government are regularly campaigning to make those in high-risk groups aware of the dangers and legislation (including the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002) has been introduced to protect workers from exposure to asbestos. 

Meanwhile, workers that have previously been exposed to asbestos fibres are still developing problems that include; 

• Pleural Mesothelioma
• Lung Cancer
• Asbestosis
• Pleural disorders 

PLEURAL MESOTHELIOMA
This is a cancer that develops in the thick lining around the lungs - the pleura. It eventually spreads to the lung itself, the chest walls and occasionally to the heart (pericardium). Mesothelioma will typically take between 30 and 40 years from exposure to develop. There is no known cure.

Instances of pleural mesothelioma are increasing and will not peak for another 20 years and there are already over 2,000 people diagnosed per year. Around 75% of these have been exposed to asbestos.

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LUNG CANCER
Cancers occur when a damaged cell within the body mutates and forms into a tuma. The body will normally destroy damaged cells but occasionally there one will sip through the net. The risk of this happening increases when you introduce something into the body that causes cells damage; cigarette smoke for example. There is evidence to suggest that asbestos fibres cause cell damage and that high and sustained exposure to asbestos will often result in lung cancer.

If you smoke and have asbestos fibres in your lungs you will greatly increase your changes of developing cancer.

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ASBESTOSIS
Asbestosis is a lung disease that develops as a result of lung scarring caused by long-term inhalation of asbestos fibres.  The scar tissue, or ‘fibrosis’, is hard and inflexible; this makes the lungs stiffen and stops them working properly and it becomes difficult to breathe. It is chronic and progressive and may take five to 20 years before symptoms develop. 

Asbestosis causes breathlessness, tightness in the chest, persistent coughing and the skin may have a bluish tinge from lack of oxygen. Getting enough oxygen from each breath needs a much greater effort.  It can lead to respiratory failure and death. There is no cure for this disease

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PLEURAL DISORDERS
The presence of asbestos fibres in the lung will often cause damage to the tissue around the lungs (the pleura) that will reduce lung capacity. This can effect breathing and will occasionally develop into Mesothelioma.

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